MAIN~26 of 56 • MAIN~26 of 56 • MAIN~26 of 56 • MAIN~26 of 56 • MAIN~26 of 56 • AmbushMag.COM • Dec. 5-18, 2006 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM• Dec. 5-18, 2006 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM• Dec. 5-18, 2006 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM• Dec. 5-18, 2006 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM• Dec. 5-18, 2006 • The One & Only Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM

trodding the boards ...from M-25

directed by Kevin Charpentier assisted byBen Dalferes, happily choreographed byJoseph Schnell, hauntingly coached vo-cally by Julie Condy, charmingly costumedby Charlotte Lang, and given a scenicallyTransylvania design by KonstantinosKritikos.

The youthful ghoulishly costumedcast all gave such arresting, enthusiastichigh energy performances that it is best tomention them all: Josef Stengl, JenaDucros, Vanessa Lyman, Mary KatePlanchett, Tyler Euper, Adaire Boudeaux,Donovan Lockett, Greer McKendrik, BarronBurmaster, Desne Jones, Harold Jenkins,Tyler Chetta, Flannery Broach, AndrewBurmaster, and Ben Dalfres.

These young actresses and actorsdemonstrated great potential and reallysank their teeth into their roles, sangsweetly enough to charm any supernatu-ral creature, and chewed up the sceneryrather than each other.

Mark Montalbano provided the spookyand eerie lighting design, while JohnBurroughs and Curtis Pierre played thehaunting jazzy score. Bravos to you all.

The Komenka Ethnic Dance &Music Ensemble recently pre-sented Ethnic Fallapalooza

2006. The program was of MoldavianDance, Middle East Dance, U. S. A. BluesSong & Lindy Hop Dance, Irish Dances,Dances of Israel, Ukrainian Dances, Hun-garian Szatmar Dances, Spanish Fla-menco, Italian Tarantella Dance, Dance ofIndia, Arabian Desert Wave, and U. S. A.Country Song & Dances in the vast audi-

torium of the Louis J. Roussell Perfor-mance Hall of Loyola University New Or-leans.

The costumes were vividly colorful,authentic, and quite beautiful. The variousdances were a spectacular show of leapsand acrobatic feats, especially the Irishselections, and the hypnotic dance stylesof the Arabian countries were sensual andcompelling to see.

Once again this venerable and re-spected company founded in 1979 andguided by Company Manager John Rodi,assisted by a large rostrum of brilliantworld famous choreographers, gave ourtown a splendid and vibrant afternoon ofeye candy and fine foot work.

Contributing to the dance extrava-ganza were the unforgettable and dra-matic vocal performances of the elegantNatasha O. Ramer, originally from Rus-sia. She filled the giant stage with herpowerfully stunning version of heartbreak-ing Russian songs. The Country andWestern vocals of Kate Arthurs accompa-nied by a lively nine piece band added tothe excitement of the evening.

The Komenka Ethnic Dance & MusicEnsemble’s spectacular show left a fullhouse with a brilliant kaleidoscope ofmusical and vocal memories!

Cynthia Heimel’s comedy, AGirl’s Guide To Chaosopened the 2006-2007 The-

atre Season at Loyola University in theLower Depths Theatre.

Ms. Heimel’s script of sassy with andbiting humor put a spotlight on thepostmodern feminist movement basedupon the playwright’s series of observa-

tions which regularly appeared in the Vil-lage Voice.

This loosely knit dramatization wasdirected with a firm grip by C. PatrickGendusa.

The cast were a delight to behold asthey developed their roles with a securesense of stage presence and an irrever-ent tongue in cheek attitude. A full housewas delighted to see Annie Barry as Cleo,Cynthia Davila as Rita, Mary Cobb asCynthia, Leigh DiAna as Lurene, AndrewDe La Pena as Jake, and Thomas Wilbertplaying various roles.

This show, staged and written in thestyle of the popular TV series, Sex In TheCity, was a well burnished production thatgot a lot of laughs and delighted this criticwith the solid performances of the entirecast. A Girls Guide To Chaos was any-thing but chaotic. It was engrossing; likespying on a party of witty young womenengaging in risque and revealing talk aboutboys who were not real men, as least asthey imagined men should be! A four starproduction in every aspect.

The New Orleans Opera Asso-ciation Mozart’s Figaro-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s

witty and iconoclastic opera was pre-sented in McAlister Auditorium on theTulane University Campus with great suc-cess.

The young cast of singers not onlyhad fine well trained and beautiful voices;but they could act and they looked the part,all visually stunning, handsome and beau-tiful.

The costumes were excellent and thesets sturdy, workable, and visually very

lovely.Playing the roles of Count Almaviva

(Mark McCrory), The Countess (TwylaRobinson), Marcellina (Mezzo sopranoGwendolyn Jones), Susanna (NikkiEinfeld), Figaro (Carlos Archuleta), andCherubino (Marguerite Krull), these per-formers filled the auditorium with beauti-ful sound matched by their charming stagepresence, excellent acting, and the per-fect staging and direction of Laura Alley.

Conductor Robert Lyall brought outthe polished music of the score with pa-nache and a sensitive attention to theneeds of the singers. It was an evening ofshimmering music and shining perfor-mances!

PELOSI - Statement onWorld AIDS Day

Washington, D.C. - Speaker-desig-nate Nancy Pelosi released the followingstatement today on World AIDS Day, whichis recognized on December 1:

“Each year, World AIDS Day providesus with an opportunity each year to gener-ate new awareness and build support forefforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS inour local communities and around theworld. We must redouble our efforts tomeet our responsibilities to the millions ofpeople affected by HIV/AIDS.

“The most recent figures fromUNAIDS and the World Health Organiza-

[continued on Main-28]

commentary

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ANNIE. Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 400 Phlox St., Metairie,885.2000 — Kenny Beck directs Sarah Stembel, Alan Payne, BryceBermingham, Kate Arthurs, Karen Christensen, Trina Beck, LisaAnselmo, Wayne Gonsoulin, Dane Rhodes and many others in theTony Award-winning musical about the world’s most popular orphan.Tickets are $30, $27 for Seniors (62+), $22 (Students 13-22) and $15children 12 and under. 7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday. Through Dec.10. Also appearing at Mandeville High Theatre, #1 Skipper Drive,Mandeville, December 16 -30.

BUSTOUT BURLESQUE’S FRENCH QUARTER FOLLIES.Tipitina’s French Quarter, 223 S. Peters St., 975.7425 — A 1950s-styleburlesque show featuring MC Dante the Magician, singer DebbieDavis, Harry Mayronne & his marionette Miss Viola, and four exoticstriptease dancers. Jerry Christopher and his Bustout BurlesqueJazz Band accompany the show. Tickets $20 reserved-table seating,$15 general admission. 8pm and 10pm Saturdays.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL FOR GEORGE WALLACE. Big TopGallery, 1638 Clio St., 569.2700 — Cripple Creek Theatre Co. pre-sents Andrew Vaught’s play in which, after being shot, segregationistGeorge Wallace is paid a visit on Christmas Eve. Vaught directsMichael Martin, Kevin Fricke, Blake Baudier and others. Tickets$12.50. 8pm Thursday-Sunday. Through Dec. 17.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL – THE WHOLE STORY. Actor’s Theatreof New Orleans, 4539 N. I-10 Service Road, Suite 200, Metairie,456.4111 — René J.F. Piazza’s directs his spoof of Dickens’ talestarring Stacy Taliancich, Kevin Songy, Arivilla Miller Riddick, EricLincoln, Danny Marin, Jessi Norton, Pauline Boudreaux and RenePiazza. Tickets $16, $14 students and seniors. 7:30pm Thursday-Saturday, 2:30pm Sunday. Through Dec. 23.

A CHRISTMAS STORY. Skyfire Theatre, 332 N. New HampshireSt., Covington, 985.875.7577 — Come enjoy the daydreams andhopes of a young man in Indiana during Christmas. Tickets $25.8:30pm Friday-Saturday, 3:30 Sunday. Through Dec. 17.

THE EIGHT REINDEER MONOLOGUES. Marigny Theatre, 1030Marigny St., 218.8559/948.9608 — Marigny Theatre Corp. presentsan adult holiday comedy by Jeff Good. Glenn Menche directs T.J.Toups, Jason George, Chris Schlumbrecht, Taryn Vinet, Duck Tennant,Ted Carter, Lisa Davis, and Mandy Turner. Tickets $20. 8pm Friday-Saturday, 6pm Sunday. Through Dec. 17.

GRENADINE McGUNKLE’S DOUBLE-WIDE CHRISTMAS.One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., 606.9903 — Running WithScissors returns to the stage with its acclaimed multi-denomina-

tional, high-camp, trailer park musical spectacular. WithElizabeth Pearce, Dorian Rush, Brad Caldwell, Lisa Picone,Ashley Ricord, Brian Peterson, Donald Lewis, Jack Longand Liz Zibilich.Tickets $20. 7pm Friday-Saturday. ThroughDec. 30.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Slidell Little Theatre, 2024Nellie Drive, Slidell, 985.643.0556 — The heartwarmingholiday hit about the lost George Bailey and the journey hetakes with Clarence, his guardian angel. Marshall Russelldirects David Jacobs, Kirk Benson, Richard Priebe, KenThompson and others. Tickets $12, $5 youth. 8pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday. Through Dec. 17.

LIVING ALL ALONE/THE PHYLLIS HYMAN STORY.Anthony Bean Community Theater, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave.,New Orleans, 862.7529 — World premiere of AnthonyBean’s musical play about the last two weeks of the life ofthe renowned jazz and R&B singer. Bean directs ParisRobertson as Phyllis Hyman, Stacye C. Markey, StephfonGuidry, Brittany M. James, Donna King, Vernell Payton, MarieS. Weatherspoon, Sybil Williams, Yolanda Cephus andothers. Tickets $18, $15 students & seniors. 8pm Thursday-Saturday, 3pm Sunday. Through Dec. 10.

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS. Le Chat Noir, 715 St.Charles Ave., 581.5812 — Off-Broadway hit that tells thesame story—“You must pay the rent. I can’t pay the rent. I’llpay the rent.”—in the styles of Rogers & Hammerstein,Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Lloyd Webber and Jerry Herman.Hilarious! Brandt Blocker directs Leslie Castay, Craig Fols,Liz Argus and Christopher Bentivegna. Tickets $35 (in-cludes $5 bar credit). 8pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday.Through Dec. 9.

ONE MO’ TIME. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St.Peter St., 522.2081 — Vernel Bagneris directs his interna-tional hit about New Orleans theater as it was at the begin-ning of the last century. Tickets $28, $25 students. 8pmFriday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday. Through Dec. 17.

THE QUEEN OF BINGO. Teatro Wego! Dinner Theatre,177 Sala Ave. Westwego, 885.2000 — Two sisters on theother side of 50 add a little fun and excitement to their liveswith B-I-N-G-O. Dane Rhodes directs Becky Allen, MichaelSullivan, Sandy Bravender and others. Tickets $19-26,children $12. 7:30pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday. ThroughDec. 17.

SANTA RETURNS! Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Audito-rium, 315 Ridgelake Dr., Metairie — A one-man musical inwhich Santa tells of his childhood as Nicholas in the townof Patara, his life as Bishop of Myra, and his transformationinto the person we call Santa Claus. He will explain why he’scalled by different names in different countries, how thetraditions such as “stockings by the chimney” came to be,and how he manages to bring gifts to children all over theworld! Tickets $10. 2pm Sunday. December 10.

THE SANTALAND DIARIES. Actor’s Theatre of NewOrleans, 4539 N. I-10 Service Road, Suite 200, Metairie,456.4111 — David Sedaris’ wry telling of what it was like tobe a department store elf. Tickets $16, $14 students andseniors. Through Dec. 23.

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD. Le Petit Theatre duVieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 522.2081 — Willie and RobertReale’s Tony Award-nominated adaptation of Arnold Lobel’sbooks. Brandt Blocker directs Jimmy Murphy, Bob Edes andothers in this delightful musical about a cheerful frog and agrumpy toad. Tickets $28, $25 students. 7:30pm Friday,2pm Saturday-Sunday. Through Dec. 17.

YULETIDE. Southern Rep Theatre, The Shops at CanalPlace, 333 Canal St., third floor, 522.6545 — World premiereof Jim Fitzmorris’ comedy which introduces audiences to aChristmas world unlike any they’ve ever seen before, whereSanta’s sleigh is actually a clipper ship and elves submittheir ideas for Christmas gifts to bureaucratic porcupineswho run the office of “What’s the Bright Idea.” Buzz Podewelldirects Wendi Berman, Ben Clement, Rebecca Frank, AimeeHayes, Gary Rucker, Sean Patterson, Carol Sutton andJackson Townsend. Tickets $15-30, $16-20 students andseniors. 8pm Thursday-Saturday, 3pm Sunday. ThroughDec. 17.

on the boardstion show that we are not doing enough tokeep pace with the spread of this cata-strophic disease. It is estimated that thenumber of people living with HIV/AIDScontinues to rise in every region of theworld. Currently, there are nearly 40 mil-lion people living with HIV/AIDS, with morethan 4 million people newly infected withHIV, and approximately 3 million AIDSdeaths in 2006. We can and must dobetter.

“We know how to treat and preventthis dreadful disease. Life-saving anti-retroviral drugs have successfully trans-formed HIV from a death sentence, yetalmost 7 million people worldwide stilldon’t have access to them. We also knowthat HIV/AIDS prevention strategies aresuccessful if they are focused and sus-tained. The U.S. and the world communitymust provide the necessary resources tofully invest in stopping the AIDS pandemic,or it will spread farther and exact a greatercost.

“In San Francisco alone, we have lostmore than 18,000 friends, family, and lovedones to this disease. Yet as we grieve forthose we have lost, we are filled with hopeas we see the strength of those with HIV/AIDS who are fighting and living full lives.This would not be possible without thehelp of the federal government throughinitiatives such as the Ryan White CAREAct. The act has greatly improved thequality and availability of health care ser-vices for people living with and affected byHIV and AIDS. I was proud to be a part ofthe creation of the Ryan White CARE Act,and I was saddened this year to opposeits reauthorization because the fundinglevel was not adequate to meet the needsof those served. Resources are critical topreventing and treating this disease, andwe are not allocating enough at home oraround the world.

“On World AIDS Day, let us cometogether to renew our call to fight thisglobal pandemic and strengthen our com-mitment to helping those affected by HIV/AIDS.”

commentary ...from Main-26

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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi) celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

Lafitte’s manager Billy Bayoukicks off the 14th Red Partywhich brought many of Cafe

Lafitte in Exile’s employees and guests tothe stage for their annual turnabout showraising $1,397 for Belle Reve in New Or-leans.

The Tampa Girls: Felicity Lane,Amy DeMilo and NatashaRichards were among the mul-

tiple guest stars for the special GumboRevue Thanksgiving Show raising $2,030for Buzzy’s Boys & Girls at The Friendly Barin New Orleans.

GM Candise, proprietorCollette and Sean served upthe annual Thanksgiving

Feast for friends and patrons of LeRoundup on the St. Louis Street strip inNew Orleans.

Bartender Juanita did the hon-ors hosting the annualThanksgiving Buffet at Big

Daddy’s in the Marigny neighborhood ofNew Orleans.

The Thanksgiving Feast kickedoff Bayou Classic festivities atAbout Time in New Orleans

with bar baron Adeaux, “No Drawers” Don,GM Richard and Joe.

Bartender Donnie Jay and GMSteve presented the traditionalThanksgiving Feast at the

Home of Southern Decadence in NewOrleans, The Golden Lantern.

Bar Baron’s Javier and CWhosted Starlight By The Park’sannual Thanksgiving Feast in

New Orleans.

GM Doc does the finishingtouches before opening theDouble Play’s annual

Thanksgiving Dinner in New Orleans.

Steve joins partner and birthdaygirl Marcy Marcell and BoomBoom Laverne for Marcy’s big

birthday blowout at Starlight By The Parkin New Orleans.

Bar Baron Mac unveils the worksof Kathleen A. Thomas as De-cember Artist of the Month at

Cutter’s in New Orleans.

Louisiana State Gay Rodeo As-sociation (LSGRA) VP GeorgeSchwandt, International Gay

Rodeo Association (IGRA) AdministrativeAssistant Tommy Channel, IGRA Trea-surer David Hill, IGRA Secretary LarryLindstrom, Colorado Gay RodeoAssociation’s John Beck and LSGRAPresident Lance Pippin inform commu-nity leaders and business owners at CafeLafitte In Exile in New Orleans on how toproduce Louisiana’s first gay rodeo. TheLSGRA hopes to present it’s first rodeo in2008 or 2009 with competition includingbull riding, steer riding, bareback broncriding, chute dogging, calf roping on foot,mounted break-away roping, team rop-ing, barrel racing, pole bending, flag race,steer decorating, wild drag race and goatdressing. For more information on how toget involved or to become a member, visitLSGRA.COM. You can show your supportof the LSGRA by attending it’s HolidaySidewalk Sale on Sat., Dec. 9 from 11am-4pm in front of Cowpokes at 2240 St.Claude Avenue.